viii PREFACE 



fruitful tree casting abroad its seeds, some of 

 which, falling on good material, may by the aid 

 of the scientist blossom into a tree of knowledge 

 indeed. And in this connection it must be borne 

 in mind that human research has not yet attained 

 the limits of its opportunities : we have arranged 

 the various orders of animals with some satisfaction 

 to ourselves, but we have not yet mapped clearly 

 their mental and moral horizons ; and, though in 

 any attempt to do so the data obtained must be 

 scrutinised with all the severity of the scientist, 

 the poet may well suggest the possible lines of 

 investigation which might advantageously be 

 adopted. Fact is the stone of science wherewith 

 its temples are built ; but imagination suggests 

 where that stone may be found. This must be 

 my apology for depicting some curious incidents 

 in Nature in a frame of imaginative colouring. 



I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to my 

 sister, Miss Lucy C. Witchell, for kindly contri- 

 buting the frontispiece and the other drawings, 

 except those signed by Mr. Neale. The photo- 

 graphs are from various sources. 



CHARLES A. WITCHELL. 

 CHELTENHAM, 1904. 



